“Lady Hester wishes to marry Carlington,” he said, still smiling. “Which is fortunate indeed, for I have every intention of wedding Miss Sutton if she will have me.”
If his mother had weathered the storm of her own murky past to become one of the leading arbiters of Society, why could not Pen also manage the same? It was true that her family was…unique. But Garrick did not give a damn. He was going to live life as he pleased, unfettered by society’s dictates. He was going to love, and damn the consequences.
“There is one problem,” Father said. “You and Aidan cannot both marry the same woman.”
Yes, there was that. He needed to find Pen and his brother with all haste to sort this muddle out. But first, he needed to know something. He was going to marry Pen regardless of the answer to his next question as long as she would forgive him for the manner in which he had bungled matters the night before. But knowing how much of a challenge they faced from his parents would be a boon.
He searched his father’s countenance. “Do I have your blessing?”
“All I want is to see my sons happy,” Father said quietly, his customary sternness fading.
Garrick swallowed against a rush of emotion and nodded. “Thank you, Father.”
He was on his feet and striding for the door in the next moment, his mother’s voice trailing after him.
“Your sons shall be the death of me, I fear, Your Grace.”
“They are your sons also,” Father was reminding.
“Only when they please me,” she grumbled.